• In the U.K., a book/documentary/bike-share program called “Beauty and the Bike” portrays the rediscovery of cycling by young women (who often shun bikes — more on this later) as a “liberating” process. (Northern Echo)

• A spokesman for the Straphanger’s Campaign in New York outlines the recent history of the city’s transportation system and calls for better management as the city adds new subway cars, “renews” stations, and institutes Bus Rapid Transit programs. (HuffPo)[SButtonZ button="digg"]

• Responding to an editorial in the Times, a blogger says federal oversight for regional transit systems would be way too burdensome both practically and financially, and would stymie the growth of public transit nationwide. (SecondAveSagas)

• What happens when you hit archaeological relics while digging a rail tunnel? Well, it slows you down. The Marmaray Project, which will one day connect Asia to Europe, has uncovered what appears to be a 4th-century Byzantine port and at least 34 sunken ships. (VOANews via Planetizen)

• Vietnam should look to China for inspiration: Its infrastructure is a wreck — 96% of trading firms rated it “bad” or “very bad” — and foreign investments are plummeting. (Channel News Asia)

• A designer with a penchant for biking in LA says that signage, though not a substitute for road upgrades, would greatly improve the experience of urban cycling. (GOOD)

• And a new mapping Web site for cyclists finds the shortest routes while excluding roads that “aren’t meant for biking.” So far, the beta version is only available for New York. (StreetsblogNY)

Tags: archaeology, Cycling